5 unnecessary plot points from ‘Friends’

Even after almost 25 years of Friends, fans still go gaga over the sitcom and rightly so. The engaging plotline, witty jokes and relatable scenes make the 90s gem one of the most-watched shows ever.

However, Friends was far from perfect. It had its fair share of problematic moments, stupid jokes, and some stretched plotlines that made even hardcore fans of the series groan.

5 insipid plot points from Friends

Here is a list of some of the random and dumb plotlines that the writers came up with which made all of us go - 'Why?'

1) Joey's hand twin

Joey was always portrayed as the dim-witted one with an intelligence quotient equal to a toddler's. But sometimes, the writers just went too far while milking his stupidity for laughs and plot points.

Joey’s brief obsession with his so-called identical hand twin was one such banal trope. The story was nonsensical at best while the jokes were nothing but lousy.

2) Fat Monica

It is no secret that Friends has its fair share of problematic elements. From homophobia to body shaming, the sitcom used it all for the sake of gathering laughs.

But it went a little too far with 'Fat Monica.' The show consistently used this trope to drive home the idea that overweight people should be mocked at every turn.

Friends showed Monica constantly degraded in her early years because of her weight. However, even as adults, the gang only ever referred to her childhood with mockery because she was obese.

3) Rachel and Joey

Often Friends has come up with bizarre storylines and plot twists to keep the show going. But the worst by far was Joey and Rachel's romance. Throughout the show's run, Ross and Rachel were always portrayed as the endgame.

Inserting Joey into the picture was the worst thing that the creators could have done. Rachel and Joey had an interesting chemistry that was devoid of any sensuality. Making the two date felt forced and done just for the sake of keeping the show going.

4) Phoebe's antics

Phoebe's antics are well known to everyone but sometimes they felt overdone to the point where it became bizarre and illogical. One time when an 80-year-old lady died on Phoebe's massage table, she claimed of being possessed by her spirit.

She suddenly turned into a grumpy old woman which was not only unbelievable but downright nonsensical. The show often went too far with Phoebe's weird antics in an attempt to score points with the plot.

5) Ross dating his student

This has to be Ross' creepiest moment by far. Ross' romantic history was frankly very disappointing. From three failed marriages to his on and off relationship with Rachel, we all thought he could have done better.

However, Ross's worst relationship has got to be his brief liaison with Elizabeth, one of his undergraduate students. The latter was portrayed as a sweet and innocent girl, and Ross pursuing her despite being significantly older and academically obligated, just seemed predatory.

About the author

Sneha is an entertainment writer at SK POP. Holding a Master's degree in Sociology, she skillfully analyzes the blend of culture and entertainment through a sociological lens, which, coupled with her passion for the world of popular culture, allows her to offer readers engaging and insightful content.

As a writer with over 3 years of experience, Sneha believes in not only referencing popular sources but also conducting thorough research and glancing through credible content to produce top-notch work. She has had the privilege of interviewing celebrities including Melissa Peterman, Kosar Ali, and Moshe Zonder.

If she could go back in time, she would love to live in the 50s and 60s when Audrey Hepburn was at the peak of her career. She admires the actress' work and would go to great lengths to interview her. She also looks up to Tilda Swinton for how she stays true to herself and aspires to inculcate this trait into her life.

A performative arts enthusiast, she immerses herself in classical dance and also enjoys conducting research on folk art forms practiced across the world when not writing.

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